clumsy

adjective

clum·sy | \ˈkləm-zē

clumsier; clumsiest

Definition of clumsy

1a : lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace clumsy fingers

b : lacking tact or subtlety a clumsy joke

2 : awkward or inefficient in use or construction : unwieldy a clumsy contraption criticized her sentence for its clumsy construction

Other Words from clumsy Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about clumsy

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Choose the Right Synonym for clumsy

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct). awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact. periods of awkward silence clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill. a clumsy mechanic maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations. a maladroit politician inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy. a hopelessly inept defense attorney gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding. felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of clumsy in a Sentence

I'm sorry about spilling your wine—that was very clumsy of me. I have very clumsy hands and tend to drop things. She made a clumsy attempt at a joke.

Recent Examples on the Web

None of this is the show’s fault, of course, nor is the frequently clumsy marketing surrounding products meant to tie into it. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "The Handmaid’s Tale season 2 was masterful. But it may have broken the show.," 11 July 2018 But the garlands went to an obscure Devonshire tinkerer, Thomas Newcomen (1664-1729), who spent 10 years on the problem and found a clumsy but workable solution. — Charles R. Morris, WSJ, "‘Energy’ Review: The Path to Power," 21 June 2018 Next to their louche irreverence, the language surrounding them has felt clumsy and overwrought from the beginning. — Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, "Jean-Michel Basquiat Is Still an Enigma," 24 June 2018 Otus, the main protagonist, is clumsy and shy and the furthest thing from a traditional hero. — Ashley Barry-biancuzzo, USA TODAY, "The 7 best Nintendo Switch games for kids," 24 Apr. 2018 Increased pressure on officials to deliver on targets could lead to more falsification of data, Xie wrote, or more clumsy and unsettling attempts to demonstrate compliance at all costs. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "With a dash of Putin and an echo of Mao, China's Xi sets himself up to rule for life," 27 Feb. 2018 The device is almost always clumsy and rarely welcome, but what makes this instance doubly weird, is that very little is revealed. — Mick Lasalle, Houston Chronicle, "Review: ‘Boundaries’ a trip to nowhere," 3 July 2018 The catch is that Mr. Incredible is too clumsy and careless as a hero: the Deavors want Elastigirl as their poster girl, given her far more surgical and studied form of heroism. — Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "With Incredibles 2, Pixar moves away from complicated emotions," 15 June 2018 Although surely not intentional, the wording is definitely clumsy and arguably should not have been passed for publication, and Aubameyang closed his post with a request of his followers to judge for themselves. — SI.com, "Dortmund Striker Aubameyang Calls Out German Journalist for Use of 'Racist' Language in Article," 14 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clumsy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.